Blog

On 4th January 2023, the NJSI team began the journey of REIN installation at Pyuthan. Rural Education Improvement in Nepal (REIN) focus on creating, promoting and improving education system at the rural areas. Thus, with this objective the installation was carried on 3 different schools. This time, initially REIN installation occurred at Shree Amar Basic School in Baluwa, Pyuthan, serving 79 students from nursery to grade 5.

On 5th January, the NJSI team proceeded with the second REIN installation at Shree Bal Basic School in Mandre, Airayoti Rural Municipality. The school, hosting 141 girls and 133 boys up to grade 8, eagerly received REIN materials, including TV, TV box, electrical wire, and internet wire. A demo class was conducted for their access and the team departed with warm appreciation from the local community and teachers of Mandre.
Similarly on 8th January, the NJSI team reached Shree Srijanshil Secondary School in Jhigane, Salyan District for the installation. The journey witnessed continuous support and cooperation from all the School Management Committee and Government officials.

At midnight around 11:47 pm on 3rd Nov 2023, Friday, a 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck Jajarkot district of Nepal. After the big shake, there were hundreds of aftershocks. The first earthquake claimed the lives of 157 people and injured 349 others. Recent reports indicate that at least 4,000 houses have been completely damaged and 35455 houses have been partially damaged. 142 schools have been completely damaged, 343 partially damaged. 80,000 students do not have access to education.
NJSI team had gone for an assessment after the quake and did coordination meeting with the local Government. The houses and schools were collapsed and cracked. Everyone was living outside under the tent. Schools are conducting their classes outside under open sky. The constraints they are facing are, it’s a winter time so they are having hard time studying outside, the weather right now is very windy, cold and snowing too. Students are being distracted by the outside environment. Some people are busy in collecting the rubbles, some are busy in making their shelters. There is no proper place to sit and write. Students are lacking proper dressing, especially the warm cloths.

As an immediate response NJSI has constructed 25 Temporary Learning Centers (TLCs) in 19 schools at Barekot. The name of the schools are as follows:
1. Janata Basic School Rokayaganu
2. Him jyoti Pra Vi Dhyarganuy
3. Lali Gurash Pra Vi Ayarna
4. Janajyoti BS Bhaisamare
5. Shanti Pra Vi Budhaganu
6. Chadrajyoti Pra Vi Karuka
7. Deurali Pra Vi Simkhara
8. Naumuli BS Ghartigaun
9. Deuti Bajayai Pra Vi Tanshi
10. Sita Ma Vi Karkijyuka
11. Sita Ma Vi Garaglichaur
12. Janabikash Pra Vi Syanla
13. Harihar BS Suwakot
14. Shankar BS Bandala
15. Bhagawati BS Laikham
16. Deuti Bal Pra Vi Laikham
17. Dipendra Ma VI Sakla
18. Birendra Aishworya Ma Vi
19. Nepal Rastriya Pra Vi Seri

Every year NJSI celebrates the Christmas with the staffs and their families, similarly, this time as well, NJSI invited some former staffs, almunia and the families of the staffs for the celebration. We had a small intimated celebrations where Fr. Roy sang carol songs for everyone, our almunia performed dances in couple of songs. One of the staffs, Raman Maharjan became Santa and distributed gifts and chocolate to all the present guests. After the program we had a dinner together.

In significant stride toward modernizing education and bridging the digital divide, NJSI recently implemented REIN in Chitwan District on 3rd September 2023 and 4th September 2023. This project involved the installation of smart hubs in four distinct school namely, Shree Chameli Devi Piya Secondary School, Shree Kankali Secondary School, Shree Aadharbhut School and Shree Rastriya Aadharbhut School which was installed by NJSI team led by Fr. Roy Sebastian SJ. Along with the installation of the hubs, the team also guided the teachers on how to use the technologies for educational purpose through a demo training. The smart hubs installed in these school represent a leap forward in leveraging technology for educational enrichment. These hubs serve as digital learning centers, equipped with interactive tools, internet connectivity and a new horizons of educational resources. This endeavor was motivated by a vision to enhance the quality of education, foster digital literacy and provide students with the tools they need to succeed in a rapidly evolving world.
This transformative effort has brought advanced technology right into the classrooms, promising brighter future for both the students and the teachers. The impact of smart hub has already become evident in these schools. They’ve brought a newfound enthusiasm for learning, improve engagement and more dynamic teaching method. Additionally, community support and collaboration have played a vital role in the success of this initiative, highlighting the importance of collective efforts in advancing education. Ultimately, this project stands as a compelling example of how innovative technology can revolutionize education and create brighter future for the students.

On August 20, 2023, a group of eager BA social work students from St. Xavier’s College, had come to NJSI to attend the session on Leadership, Critical thinking and Discovering Identity which were conducted under the guidance of Fr. Roy Sebastian,SJ and Mr. M.C. Pereira.
Fr. Roy navigated the participants through an exercise of discovering oneself in this immense universe and to become aware of one’s true purpose of being created as a human. Based on these fundamentals the students were oriented to understand individual’s role in designing and forming the future where everybody has a leadership role knowingly or unknowingly. The input on critical thinking was precisely to eliminate myths and superstitions along with misconceptions that is used by modern leaders to use citizens for their own benefits other than developing universal goodness.
Throughout the session the students learned that Leadership is a catalyst for change, a catalyst for growth, and a means to empower those in our circle. Engaging dialogues and real-world examples reinforced the idea that leadership is, above all, a responsibility to elevate our communities and better our world. Likewise he defined critical thinking as the ability to assess information, dissect problems, and make well-informed choices
Amidst these enlightening conversations, to broaden the horizons, Mr. M.C. Pereira took the example of Cambodia’s political history. Cambodia, a land steeped in cultural heritage, bore the weight of the Khmer Rouge regime’s horrors in the 1970s. This dark chapter serves as a poignant testament to the Cambodian people’s fortitude, as they’ve since rebuilt their nation and embraced optimism.
In a nutshell, the session ended with the hope of being a profound experience for the participants and help them become aspiring Social workers. Fr. Roy and MC Sir steered a transformative journey of self-discovery and empowerment. Meanwhile, the narratives of Cambodia and Afghanistan served as poignant reminders of human resilience and hope.

In a vibrant gathering of young minds, Personality Development Camp and Eco Club was conducted from 2nd August 2023 to 4th August 2023 at Kavre Regional Center bringing together 20 enthusiastic students from five different schools. This camp aimed at fostering holistic personal growth and not just academic development. Four students each from Shree Indrawati Secondary School, Shree Janata Secondary School, Shree Bhagawati Madhyamik Vidhyalaya, Shree Narayansthan Aadharbhut Vidhyalaya, and Shree Ram Madhyamik Vidhyalaya converged at the event engaging in various discussions, activities, and self- discovery sessions.
The heart of the event was the Personality Development camp (PDC), covering a wide range of essential topics. It empowered students with the tools of self-confidence, conflict resolution, and critical thinking. It also addressed the contemporary issues like social media use, the consequences of smoking and drinking, and the significance of discipline, teamwork and time management. Along with the sessions, the students were also made core members of ECO club for their respective schools.
The formation of eco club push the students, one step forward to preserve and be responsible towards the environment. Additionally, they were also involved in different activities relevant to the sessions, and arts for them to explore their creative side. This holistic approach to education and development left these students not just enlightened but also more confident and responsible, ready to contribute positively to their communities and the environment. The event demonstrated the transformative power of education in shaping the leaders of the future.